http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Portugal , Lisbon and Tagus Valley , Sintra en-us Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:02:28 BST Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:02:28 BST Went on a day trip to Sintra today. Sintra is a town about 30kms away. We got the train which was a bargain euro1.65 each way. Why aren't trains at home this cheapWe visited a really cool castle when we were here. It is Palcio da Pena which is this brightly coloured castle high above the town. The architecture was a little bizarre in places think cartoon castle but I really liked it.We also http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-271605.html Went to Sintra yesterday. A 35 Mins train journey from the Rossio station took me to the Sintra station. From the Sintra station we took a 2 way hop ticket for the bus 434 which took us to the Pena park and palace. The palace is on a hill and park around the palace. After visiting the palace we had long walk inside the park. The map given at the entrance was helpful. You just need to follow the http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-270499.html Hi Friends and FamilyWe were going on a day trip to Sintra. Sintra is the former summer residence of Portuguese royalty and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. It boasts two extraordinary palaces a semitropical garden and a Moorish castle with views over LisbonWe took a train from the Rossio station in Lisbon and 45 minutes later we were in Sintra. Apparantly its a common commuter route http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-262132.html After the rugged walk through the Moorish Castle we get to the fairyland atmosphere of the Palace of PenaThe artist king consort Don Fernando II completed contruction of this fanciful palace around 1852 on the site of monastery. Convent of Our Lady of Pena 1503. Earthquake of 1755 did serious damage to the monastery and it falls into decline Don Fernando purchases it and it becomes the beauti http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-240473.html Are you with the feeling that you will return That's the question the receptionist asked me when I checked us out of the hotel just outside Lisbon. My answer yes. of course And that was before we had actually been into Lisbon. Before we had seen the wide Tegas River and watched young sailors in their little boats manuver tight cirlces while a tanker passed under the bridge. Before we http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-240453.html SINTRAUNESCO'S SECRET GARDENI've always wanted to go to Portugal...I don't know why but something always drew me to this country. Maybe it's because of it's heritage and history of all the travellers that have gone through it maybe it's the combination and just perfect mixture or cultures and races maybe all of the above anyway I always knew I'll find in Lisbon a home away from home. The fir http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-239563.html After a late morning we got to see our beautiful hotel during the daylight. After a brief walk around the grounds includes a monastery and golf course we started off to Sintra. We started off with some croissants and hot chocolate at a cafe on the main square. We then toured the Palacio Nacionale which was a residence for Portugal monarchs. There were some beautiful rooms with painted tiled http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-230844.html After a night in the abandoned house where I woke up every two hours or so I set out to the woods with my mind set on the coast. The beach the capes something. Unfortunately after walking in circles up and down the hills with my now even heavier backpack I set up camp not far from the fence I had climbed over a couple of hours ago. Deers are everywhere I even saw the skeleton of one in the http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-213207.html After spending a few nights at Bruno's place I headed to the coast. Plan was to camp out in the woods but instead I walked upon an abandoned house somewhere between Cabo da Roca and Colares. Cars pass frequently outside my newfound bedroom. Since insects and other creatures are all over the place I put up my tent. There's a squatted house just next door which I spent a few hours outside cooking my http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-213205.html Sintra was gorgeous. Most people take a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon but I stayed for 3 nights which was probably one night too long. However there is plenty to see there so I kept myself busy. It also forced me to slow down a bit qwhich I am trying to do before I hit London and start interviews for jobs finding a house etc. I stayed in a hostel which was right near the train station. Sounds http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-199504.html While in Lisbon I rented a car for a day trip to Sintra and some of the beaches near Lisbon. Irsquove always wanted to go to Sintra since seeing pictures from a photo shoot my brother did here many years ago. My photos may not be as ldquoprofessionalrdquo and are obviously missing the hot models but hopefully yoursquoll still enjoy them.Sintra is a storybook town nestled in the hills. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-192081.html Les palaisrdquobombons. Crsquoest Sintra qursquoon les trouve. Il y en a beaucoup a tel point qursquo on se croirait au ldquowonderfull world of Disneyrdquo. Encore ici lrsquoUnesco a inscrit la ville et son site au patrimoine mondial de lrsquohumanit. Situ dans des collines verdoyantes au milieu drsquoune vgtation presque luxuriante bnficiant drsquoun microcl http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-145063.html Today was spent day tripping out of Lisbon to the historic town of Sintra where the Portugese Royals spent their summers and the seaside resort of Cascais with its expansive beaches and lovely quaint village ambiance. After 8 hours of walking up and down hills we are starting to realize how hilly Portugal is. Will we be able to keep up the pace Hopefully Spain and Morocco are flatterPena Pala http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-139342.html Buseshellipwe donrsquot need no stinking buses Sintrahellipa Portuguese Kingrsquos Paradise Last night we decided today would be our first out of town adventure. It served multiple purposes 1 to see the beautiful town of Sintra and explore its castles and palaces 2 to give me a little experience with the European metro and train system even if it was a commuter train.To get to Si http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-102195.html Well I loved Sintra . It is a great little town about 28 km from Lisbon. After arriving in Lisbon in the early morning of May 13 I immediately took a train to Sintra and thanks to the train conductor I found some great accommodation adjacent to the train station . In the end I stayed four nights so will happily act as Australiarsquos ambassador for Sintra having seen all of itI walked t http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-60464.html 7 a.m Wake up Breakfast. Bus to the airport9.a.m Picking up the rental car. We had booked one in advance since our travel agent had a good deal. We strongly recommend renting a car from the airport because 1 it is very easy to go from the airport to the highways out of Lisbon and 2 unless you have no fear at all you don't want to drive around in central Lisbon in a car that is not yours. 1 http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Sintra/blog-47290.html